Chosen for Maryland Bear Hunt in October....now what Handi to use?????

[1NEFsofar]

Well my father got drawn for a tag this year in Maryland for bear hunting, the great part is that you get to take someone to "share" your tag - yep, that's me!!!!! .  Either person is eligable to fill the tag. You have to hunt within sight of each other as to not double up the tag.  Now for the hard part....what handi, my 308 or 45-70?  Plus and minus to both:  308 positive - very accurate even at long ranges, negatives - not many but maybe giving up a little knockdown power.  45-70 positve - large caliber thump especialy with "hotter" loads, negatives - not super accurate at longer ranges that may be the only shot that I get.  So what do you think?  Either way, this will be my second time hunting bear and I am really excited (my first time was in Maine where I used a .44 mag pistol and took a 280 lb sow).

[LONGTOM]

No question--------45-70
Like you said , hits harder.
At the range you will most likely get a shot at one it will do just fine.
A couple of hundred yards is no problem if you take the time to shoot out to that distance enought to get use to where to hold.

Any farther than that and the 308 might not get the job done as far as getting to the vitals, depending on the bullet used.


JMO
LONGTOM

[alien319]

I would have to agree with Longtom, 45-70 all the way. That thing has been taking heavy animals way longer than the .308's and he is right. The .45-70 should be fine for the ranges you will most likely encounter a bear! By the way, where at in Maryland?

[zoner]

not trying to start a contest,these guys are right...the 45-70 will surely do the job. The 308,set up with a good bullet(core-loct,partition,etc) will do it too....

[1NEFsofar]

The bear hunt takes place in the Western panhandle of Maryland.  Alleghany and Garette Counties I believe.  My father and I have been putting in for the lottery for the past few years and this year he got chosen!  Since he is 68 and you have to wait four years to apply again after you succesfully get drawn for a tag, this may be his one and only shot at it. I really hope that he takes the bear and not I.  Matter of fact I may pass on purpose if I think he can get a shot at it so the caliber may not matter at all!! .  Thanks for the input, please keep it coming as I have not decided yet.

Thanks!

[poncaguy]

My 45-70 is very accurate with Hornady Lever rounds, I would not worry out to 200 yards with it.

[poncaguy]

And, I'm 68 too..................

[BBF]

What cartridge is your Dad using? IMO use one cartridge that handles the longer range best, the other does more thumping.

[alien319]

Sweet, good luck!! You know either one will work so you could just wake up on the day to leave to hunt and pick one!?

[petemi]

They'll both handle the range, if ya know em.  Take the two of them. 

I doubt if you're gonna see a bear at over 75 yards in the eastern woods.  They generally don't run around in open fields.  I'd use the .45-70 myself.  My .308 sits there these days collecting dust, and my .45-70 easily reaches out to 300 yards.  If your hunt is in early Fall, into October, you're gonna have leaves and foliage.  Any shot you get should be close in.

Pete

[1NEFsofar]

Good points made by all....wow what a bias for the 45-70!!!!!

No offense by the 68 year old comment, just making a point that he will not even be able to apply until he is 72!.

My last hunt in Maine for bear was over bait and it ended up being a 20 yard shot with the pistol.  That was fun!!!!!

I hope to hunt private property, i.e. crop fields damaged by bears, so I am not sure of the yardage of the shots that I will encounter. As suggested, I may take the 45-70 for closer work and let my dad take a longer range rifle. He will be borrowing my nephews Remington 700 in .308 so he should be able to make the longer shots.

[Bigeasy]

Both the 308 and the 45/70 would be good bear medicine.  At the ranges you will be shooting, I would have to agree that the 45/70, with the right load, is a better choice.  Since you got one last year, letting your father get one this year is cool, the right thing to do...

Larry

[greg916]

I think I'll disagree and vote for the .308. I am going to guess the terrain in western MD will be similar to that in western NC. Anything from laurel thickets where the range can be just a few feet to the next ridge over, where the range can equal anything our eastern beanfields can offer. I would rather use the 45-70, but if there is a chance of a shot "out there" the 308 would be more forgiving of  misjudged range.

[Swampman]

.45-70 always goes bang.

[The Hermit]

Since I got "Handioutis fever", I admit I'm prejudice for the 45-70 using Hornady LE. I'm also sure the 308 will do the trick. But, when that big old fat 325 grain slug hits home with a slap and the barrel jumps up 4" inches, and you feel a real jolt in your shoulder.... and the bear drops on the spot.  Ahhh  you get the picture.  Gotta love it.
I wish my dad and my grandpa were here for just one more hunt. Good luck with the hunt.

     The Hermit

[jeepmann1948]

Simple solution :
 flip a coin 
 either one a winner!
 better odds than the lotto !

[vabowhntr]

Either will do just fine on bear.  I would take the one I had more confidence in.  For me, that would be my .308 (wait, I don't have a 45-70 yet...)

[1NEFsofar]

Decided to see what the 45-70 would do at 100 yards today.....approx. 1" with 3 shots using Hornady LE's .  I was very impressed ! 

Of course my .308 cold bore shot was dead center bullseye at 100 as well. 

Descisions, descions!!!! Either way I can't go wrong!